Yournameismadeupofatleasttwonames.Everyonehasafirstandlastname.HowmanypeopledoyouknowwhoarenamedWilliamorMaryorJohnorJoy?Howcouldyoukeepthemallstraightiftheydidn‘thavelastnames?ButtherewasatimeinEngla
Yournameismadeupofatleasttwonames.Everyonehasafirstandlastname.HowmanypeopledoyouknowwhoarenamedWilliamorMaryorJohnorJoy?Howcouldyoukeepthemallstraightiftheydidn‘thavelastnames?
ButtherewasatimeinEnglandwhentherewerenolastnames.YourfathermighthavebeenWilliam,andyourmother,Mary,William‘swife.
YournamemighthavebeenFred,sonofWilliam.WhatifanotherWilliammovedintothetown?Let‘ssayhewasatailor,HemighthavebeencalledWilliamthetailortokeeppeoplefromconfusingthetwoWilliams.ThenamewouldthenhavebecomeWilliamTaylor,andhiswholefamilywouldhavethelastnameTaylor,Thatishowfamilynamescametobe.
Therearemanywaysinwhichfamilieswerenamed.Peoplewerenamedfortheirjobs,wheretheylived,orhowtheylooked.Somepeopleeventookthenamesofthingsthattheythoughtwerebeautiful.OtherpeopletooksuchnamesasPrinceorKing,becausetheyadmiredthesepeople.Nameswerealsogivenbecauseofthefather‘snameasinAnderson,Johnson,orRichardson.Thereweremanywaysthatpeoplegottheirlastnames.Canyouimaginehavingtochooseyourown?